India ranked as the fifth most polluted country worldwide in 2024, with Byrnihat in Meghalaya being the most polluted metropolitan area globally. High pollution levels are linked to rapid industrialisation and unregulated emissions. Despite some improvement, Delhi remains the most polluted capital, and India's cities continue to exceed WHO PM2.5 guidelines.
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Isro is preparing to launch Mission ShakthiSAT in Sept 2026, featuring 12,000 talented girls from 108 countries. The mission aims to encourage young female participation in space exploration. Selected participants will gather in Chennai to build payloads for scientific experiments. This initiative highlights the potential of untapped talent among young girls worldwide.
A professor from a Haryana university was arrested at Mumbai airport for allegedly using false information to obtain visas for seven youths to the UK under a fake student exchange programme. Police suspect it to be a case of human trafficking and have begun an investigation, with the help of a confession from the professor about his involvement.
Rishabh Pant, after a remarkable IPL 2024 return post a serious car accident, is struggling in IPL 2025 with the Lucknow Super Giants. Despite high expectations and a record Rs 27 crore deal, Pant's batting form has been poor. Former player Piyush Chawla attributes his difficulties to form, not pressure, stressing his need for a game-changing innings.
Rohit Sharma is facing a tough phase with the bat, especially in Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He aims to regain form in his favoured ODI format against England. Despite recent struggles, Rohit boasts an impressive record in white-ball cricket, including three double hundreds in ODIs.
Former fast bowler Brett Lee advocates for Josh Hazlewood's return to Australia's playing XI for the Brisbane Test against India, provided he's fully recovered from injury. Despite Scott Boland's impressive five-wicket haul in Adelaide, Lee believes Hazlewood's experience and form warrant immediate selection. The five-match series is currently tied 1-1.
Deepika Padukone spoke to students about handling stress and mental health during exams at 'Pariksha Pe Charcha.' She emphasized the importance of expressing emotions and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Padukone also urged parents to nurture their children's individual potentials without pressuring them to achieve high marks.
The fifth Test between India and Australia at the SCG heads into a promising Day 2 with clear skies. The weather conditions are mostly sunny and breezy, ideal for cricket. Australia's strong start after India posted a modest 185 on Day 1 sets the stage for a potentially decisive day's play.
Anaya Bangar, daughter of Sanjay Bangar, reunited with her childhood friend Sarfaraz Khan after her gender affirmation surgery. Sarfaraz expressed his excitement about meeting Anaya after three years. Anaya revealed she faced harassment within the cricket world, including receiving unsolicited nude photos from cricketers and a proposition from a veteran player.
Police in Beed arrested three suspects involved in the abduction-murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh. Two suspects were caught in Pune, while another was arrested in Kalyan. The Maharashtra CID is investigating the case, which may be linked to attempts of extortion and assaults on a renewable energy firm. Further arrests are expected.
The EPFO has retained an 8.25 per cent interest rate on EPF deposits for 2024-25, maintaining the increase set in 2023-24 from 8.15 per cent. The rate remains subject to Ministry of Finance approval before being credited to the accounts of over seven crore subscribers.